KEY CRITERIAS TO SELECT THE OPTIMUM RUST PREVENTIVE OILS
Rust or Corrosion are the words which any component manufacturer dreads to hear in their shopfloor. The reddish-brown texture formed on a metal surface due to oxidation is known as rust. Metal objects corrode when they come in contact with air and water, reducing their functionality and durability. The process of corrosion leads to rust formation on metal surfaces, eventually causing it to disintegrate.
Rust is a natural process, and the best way to minimize its impact is by applying some rust prevention oil.
Rust preventive oils lubricate the metal parts that come in direct contact with the atmosphere. These oils consist of polar substances that permit them to stick around the metal surfaces forming a film that prevents corrosion. They are used in between operations or before the final dispatch or storage of a certain product.
Let us now consider the following criteria you should follow to choose the right rust protection oil:
● Duration of protection
Rust preventive oils generally offer different protection levels based on duration. Some rust preventive oils have medium-term protection lasting for two to three months. You can also purchase preventive oils that provide long-term protection between six to eighteen months or higher. These oils are usually used in severe conditions where a high degree of protection is necessary to avoid rust formation,such as exporters who ship the components through sea.
● Type of surface industrial
rust preventives mostly function on metallic surfaces on which the reaction occurs and where rust accumulates. The surfaces open to the atmospheric moisture are protected with the film of rust preventive oil. Industrial rust preventives are widely used in steel mills for protecting outer skin panels. Top-class rust protection oils offer a great degree of prevention from rust on all grades of coated or uncoated steel and are preferably used more in electro-galvanized surfaces. Preventive oil is also used extensively in the automobile industry to protect machined components from rust until assembly.
● Type of metallurgy
Rust preventive oils are selected based on metallurgy to be protected. Sintered or Cast iron parts require rust preventive oil which can reach the porous surface. Steel surface require a thin film product that can be easily covered and adheres to surface. Each metallurgy has unique requirement of rust preventive oil.
● The atmosphere of use (Wet, Humid, or Dry)
If the metallic surface is kept in a dry atmosphere, it forms minimum to no rust as the rate of reaction slows down due to the absence of moisture. In such conditions, you can apply the industrial rust preventives in less amount and after extended intervals. Whereas, humid atmospheric conditions will speed up the reaction and form rust on the exposed surface in no time. Hence, metallic surfaces require adequate protection from rust and preventive oils let you protect them seamlessly. High-quality industrial rust preventives, such as Castrol's Rustilo range of rust protection oils, offer long-lasting protection from corrosion.
● Grade of oil
There are two grades under rust preventive oil: one is for Long term/export use, and the other is for short term/ domestic use. Aerospace, Automotive, Metals, Mining, Wind, and other machinery-intensive industries use industrial rust preventives which are designed for long term protection. For domestic use, you might not need long-term rust prevention oils. Components shipped within same country falls under domestic use When applied on domestic surfaces, it generally creates a thin film protecting the surface from corroding.
● Oil strength
The power of rust preventive oils determines the prevention of rust as per the customer requirement. If the stability of the oil is considered to be utilized for the long term, then it is defined as a strengthened applicant, mostly used in industrial productions. The low-grade rust preventive oils are generally not as powerful as long-term ones but suited for domestic requirement or in a dry atmosphere where the level of corrosion is comparatively lower.
● Cost
The cost of rust preventive oil depends on its grade, strength, and duration of protection. Best quality industrial rust preventive oils cost higher than low-grade protection oils. For example, a high-performance rust preventive oil like Castrol Rustilo DW 250 HF used for exporting engine components, might cost a little more than ordinary low-performance oils. But, the little extra you pay can provide above-average protection for a longer duration.
Rust preventive oils are critical in ensuring that objects made of metal are in top condition, and investing in a good product goes a long way. Castrol’s Rustilo rust preventive oil is considered the best oil to prevent rust as it successfully attains desired levels of protection from rust on metallic parts at economical pricing. It ensures improved health, safety, and environmental (HSE) performance. You can choose the perfect rust prevention oil from a range of options of solvent-based corrosion preventive oils, neat corrosion prevention oils, and aqueous corrosion preventive oils. So, save your metals from getting corroded by using Castrol’s best rust preventive oils.